User:Peaky76/Edinburgh Festival Fringe 1986

In 1986, promoter Karen Koren established The Gilded Balloon as a comedy venue in the former J. & R. Allan's department store on Cowgate. A 3am late licence made it a home for late night socialising for comedians and the raucous late night show Late 'n' Live was started there.

Ivor Dembina and Addison Cresswell co-founded the Comedy Boom at the Abercraig Lounge, on the junction of Broughton Street and Picardy Place. The basement became the first stand-up only venue at the Fringe. It ran for five years. Julian Clary and sidekick Fanny The Wonder Dog performed there as the Joan Collins Fanclub.